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Games Convention 2008 Bigger Then Ever

Zyuu — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:00:07 GMT

Even More Registrations for Europe's Leading Games Fair Than Last Year
Spectactular Game Music Concert at the Start of the Fair
E-Sport Finals Bring the Best Gamers to Leipzig

Clear the stage for the biggest game show of the year: From 21 to 24 August 2008, the Leipzig Exhibition Centre hosts the seventh GC - Games Convention. With considerably more than 500 exhibitors (2007: 503 exhibitors), the fair organisers expect another record. Interest is particularly strong among international game publishers and developers. Around 115,000 square metres (gross) exhibition area is available in total for presentations at Europe's benchmark fair for interactive entertainment, edutainment, infotainment and hardware. "Registration figures for the GC 2008 are already considerably higher than last year. This and the large number of foreign exhibitors underline the importance attributed to Leipzig's GC - Games Convention as Europe's benchmark fair for the games industry", says Wolfgang Marzin, Leipziger Messe's CEO.

For the first time, the layout concept of the GC - Games Convention sets up key focus areas, making it easier for visitors to find their way around. Software entertainment is offered to them in Halls 2, 3 and 5. Alongside console providers, this is where leading game publishers from Germany and abroad introduce the latest video and computer games. The organiser say that more than 250 World, European and German premieres can be tried out this year. Meanwhile, in Hall 4, it is all about hardware and accessories. "The division of the exhibition halls enables exhibiting companies to make even more individual appeals to visitors", explains Peggy Schönbeck, project director, GC - Games Convention. The outdoor area will also be a play area, offering a variety of fun sport activities at the GC Beach-Club and featuring attractive exhibitor stands.

GC Business Center with New "Marketplace" Package Deal

The trade visitor area comes up with new features as well. As a direct response to the increased exhibitor demand the GC Business Center is much bigger this year and covers now a total area of 40,000 square metres (2007: 30,000 square metres). The Congress Center Leipzig (CCL), the entire Hall 1 and parts of Hall 2 are available to companies for their use in reaching agreement with their national and international business and trading partners and ordering for the important Christmas business.

Hall 2 is home to the Developers Village, where aspiring developer companies can present their innovative product ideas and set up initial contacts with games publishers. There are many international joint stands in the Developers Village, including from Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK.

Limitless service is offered by the new "Marketplace" option. The modular joint stand in Hall 1 is fully fitted out and features a modern design. Beside a shared info counter with competent staffers and an attractive meeting lounge area plus café bar, exhibitors are also offered a range of services such as catering, cleaning and security. "With the new all in 'make-it-easy' package, we cut down on administrative effort for our exhibitors, so that they can concentrate entirely on taking care of their business contacts", says Peggy Schönbeck.

GC family with a New Look

Child-appropriate games and the facilitation of media literacy - these are the key focuses for the GC family 2008. The exhibition area in Hall 2 is a first port of call for beginners, parents, teachers and educationalists in search of information on age-appropriate media and their use. The new concept involves a division into three different areas. According to their specific positioning, exhibitors will be together in the sections "Children's Software/Edutainment", "Media World/Youth Protection" and "Application Software/Internet Security".

The GC family programme links these three sections with plenty of information, fun and entertainment. Headlined "Level 1 - Learning to Play", visitors can compete against one another interactively in the game arena. This involves edutainment and children's software titles as well as the use of actual console games. A professional live commentary on the contest and the "Genre Show" provide useful information relating to each game. Five theme-based game zones are available to those who prefer peace and quiet to test out recommendable software for children and family, or standard learning games. Experienced media experts explain the various options and are ready to answer questions if needed.

The "Media Meeting Place" is new. In a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, representatives of media and youth protection are here to talk about their work. Visitors can glimpse behind the scenes of Germany's youth protection system and put their questions on the issue of child-appropriate facilitation of media literacy.

Chilling Out in the Heart of Town: GC Freestyle

This year's GC Freestyle has room for more than 5,000 tents. Just a few minutes on foot from the city centre, the open-air event on the festival ground at the main stadium has everything all gamers could wish for after a day at the show: the chance to chill out to relaxing DJ music, sweat out in the fun sports area or rock away in the city's clubs. The fair is easily reached in 20 minutes by tram.

The all-in-one package costs 130 euros and includes a four-day ticket for the GC, four overnights at the GC Freestyle campsite, the use of the sanitation facilities at the campsite and free use of local public transport. Visitors coming to Leipzig for just a day can have a one-day ticket to the fair and one overnight stay at the campsite for 38 euros.

Classical plus Happening: Kicking off with a Musical Premiere

Time to listen and watch at the GC - Games Convention's traditional game music concert on Wednesday, 20 August. Visitors can look forward to a very special premiere. After huge successes in the USA and the UK, the Video Games Live concert programme comes to Germany for the first time. The classic event transforms the Arena Leipzig into a multimedia concert hall and as it does so, it proclaims the start of the GC 2008 in Leipzig. Spectacular light effects, interactive game interludes and a top-class symphony orchestra with star pianist Martin Leung guarantee a fitting lead-in for the fair.

Lovers of classics are not the only ones to enjoy a treat. Scenes of the respective games are shown on a giant screen accompanied by the music. From crazy Pacman chases, clever Tetris twists and turns, or dangerous Myst voyages of discovery - Video Games Live takes the audience on a multimedia journey through time and the world of gaming. Tickets for the game music concert are available at all known advance sales outlets, from the ticket hotline + 49 (0) 1805-57 00 81 or from www.deag.de.

The Best of the Best: Prize Presentations at the GC

Visitors can experience a real glut of prizes at this year's GC - Games Convention. It starts on the Thursday with presentation of the "Best of GC" awards. Games journalists make up an independent panel choosing the best GC new productions in different categories. Innovative remodelling of computers are in the spotlight for the fifth GC CasemodMasters (GCCM). On the Sunday at the fair, the most creative ideas will win awards in the categories "Casemods" (remodelled series production PC cases) and "Casecons" (completely self-produced casings).

Things hot up at the GC for fans of e-sport too. For the first time ever, the German final of the World Cyber Games is being held in Leipzig. Altogether 200 of the best German gamers compete for the national title and for a place in Germany's selection. Another highlight is the final of the ESL European Nations Championship. Four national teams each compete for the European championship title in the disciplines Counter-Strike, Warcraft 3, FIFA 2008 and Counter-Strike:Source.

To Leipzig by Coach, by Rail or by Air

With six additional charter flights on offer, the GC - Games Convention is more accessible than ever before. Flights set off for Leipzig on 19 and 20 August from the key European airports Amsterdam, Helsinki, London/Luton, Munich, Paris/Le Bourget and Vienna. Return flights are available for either 21 or 22 August. Further information is available from Leipziger Messe Customer Services (Ms Sehr, +49 (0) 341 678 8954).

Deutsche Bahn AG is also ready for keen gamers. With its GC travel special, exhibitors and trade visitors can get to Leipzig quickly and easily from any DB railway station in Germany. And at a one-off special price: a return ticket to Leipzig costs only 99 euros 2nd class and 159 euros for 1st class travel. Tickets can be booked with Deutsche Bahn by phone on + 49 (0) 1805-31 3353, reference "Games Convention".

Deutsche Bahn is again providing special trains for GC day trippers. On 21 August, GC fans can take a train from Munich to Leipzig, and on 23 August, a special train from Cologne helps long-distance travellers on their way to Leipzig. Trains arrive in Leipzig at about 11.00 a.m., returning at 7.00 p.m. Tickets including GC admission cost 79 euros from Munich and 69 euros from Cologne.

For the first time and together with "Connect GC", the Leipziger Messe is also organising a blanket coverage coach service. In more than 30 German cities, coaches will be ready to travel to Leipzig on the Friday and Saturday of the fair. With no detours or stops on the way, they head straight for the games mecca, arriving by 10.00 a.m. at the latest. Whether or not coaches operate is up to the gamers: at least 50 bookings are needed for each journey. The price of the coach trip depends on the distance.

Detailed information on the various travel options is available on the website http://www.gc-germany.com.

Travel to be less troublesome for GC ‘08

Zyuu — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:03:54 GMT

It have never been easier to reach Games Convention as this year. There's new flight connections, coach and rail services to make the journey/accessibility of GC smoother.

Six New Flight Connections Shorten the Journey
Deutsche Bahn with GC Rail Travel Offer
First-time Direct Coach Services from German Cities

The appeal of the GC – Games Convention, Europe’s leading fair for international entertainment, is immense. Every year, exhibitors, visitors and journalists come to Leipzig from more than 40 countries. To make their journey pleasant, even from further away, the Leipziger Messe has three special offers this year. As well as additional flights, the familiar Deutsche Bahn GC-Special for rail travel is also available to exhibitors and trade visitors. Private visitors are catered for too: the new GC coach service guarantees affordable journeys for game fans from all over Germany.

International visitors can be particularly pleased. With six extra charter flights, the GC – Games Convention 2008 is closer than ever. The planes depart for Leipzig on 19 and 20 August from key European airports Amsterdam, Helsinki, London/Luton, Munich, Paris/Le Bourget and Vienna. Return flights can be on either 21 or 22 August. “By expanding the flight options, the Leipziger Messe underlines its reputation as one of the leading service providers in the German trade fair business”, says the project director of the GC – Games Convention, Peggy Schönbeck.

Flights can be booked now on the website http://www.gc-germany.com/index.php?page=64.... Further information is available from the Leipziger Messe customer services (Ms Sehr, +49 (0) 341 678 8954).

Rail & Play: To the GC 2008 with Deutsche Bahn

This year, Deutsche Bahn AG has something for frequent players as well as frequent travellers. With the attractive GC travel special, exhibitors and trade visitors can get to Leipzig quickly and easily from any DB railway station in Germany. And do so at a unique special price: a return ticket to Leipzig costs only 99 euros for 2nd class and 159 euros for 1st class.

Tickets can be booked by phone with Deutsche Bahn as from 1 April on +49 (0) 1805 – 311153, keyword “Games Convention”, with easy payment by direct debit or credit card. Tickets can then be obtained at ticket machines or will be sent by post to home addresses. The special offer: tickets are valid between 18 and 26 August 2008 on all DB trains, including the ICEs, so that visitors to the GC can plan their stay in Leipzig flexibly and independently of train times. Further information on the GC travel special is available on http://www.gc-germany.com/index.php?page=64....

Connect GC: Rally to Leipzig

Together with “Connect GC”, the Leipziger Messe is for the first time also organising a blanket coverage coach service. In more than 30 German towns, coaches will be ready to travel to Leipzig on the Friday and Saturday of the fair. With no detours or stops on the way, they head straight for the gaming mecca, arriving at 10.00 am at the latest. Whether or not coaches operate is up to the gamers: at least 50 bookings are needed for each journey.

The price of the coach trip depends on the distance. From Berlin, for example, a return ticket costs 39 euros, from Munich, 56 euros. A ticket for the fair can be ordered as well as the coach trip. Further information about this new option is available on the website http://www.connect-gc.de, where there is a complete overview of all connections.

Games Convention 2008 Starts with a Bang

Zyuu — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:50:55 GMT

Video Games Live - The Spectacular Concert Event from the USA for the First Time in Germany

Spectacular light effects, interludes of interactive gaming and a top-class symphony orchestra - this is what makes up Video Games Live (VGL), the world's most successful concert series featuring game music. This year for the first time, the classic event is stopping off in Germany: at 8.00 pm on 20 August 2008, the VGL presents the official game music concert for the GC - Games Convention, Europe's biggest computer and video games fair. An audience of around 6,000 can look forward to a major musical event in the Arena Leipzig.

"I am delighted that with Video Games Live, we have been able to bring one of the internationally most successful game music events to Leipzig. The combination of classical music and interactive elements makes it an ideal prelude to Europe's biggest games festival", says Peggy Schönbeck, project director of the GC - Games Convention. Tommy Tallarico, the VGL producer, is also looking forward to the new partnership. "Video Games Live is the best way of making both video games and their wonderful music even better known. Anyone coming to our show will quickly see what a fantastic art form video games have become in recent years."

Conducted by Jack Wall, the Video Games Live Symphony Orchestra plays the best-known computer game melodies. The appearances of the American star pianist Martin Leung are particularly well worth hearing. For several years now, the exceptional 21-year-old talent has dedicated himself almost exclusively to the performance of well-known game melodies such as Earthworm Jim, Zelda and Final Fantasy. Leung's international breakthrough came in 2004 when he first performed the Super Mario title song blindfolded.

But fans of the classics will not be the only ones to have a good time at the GC 2008 game music concert. Parallel to the music, scenes from the various games will be shown on a giant screen. From wild Pacman chases and clever Tetris twists to dangerous Myst voyages of discovery - Video Games Live takes the audience with it on a multimedia time journey through the world of games. "Not just to give that special VGL feeling to the musicans onstage, but also to reach the whole audience, we have added many interactive elements to the concert", is how Jack Wall explains the VGL concept. Gaming has its turn too. A few lucky members of the audience have the chance to take part in an onstage interactive game competition. The evening also includes a specially arranged laser show and the appearances of many well-known game characters.

Tickets for the official GC 2008 game music concert can be ordered at all the usual ticket sales outlets, as well as at www.deag.de. The VGL combi-ticket also includes a day at the GC - Games Convention, where visitors to the concert can then try out the latest video games.

About Video Games Live

Video Games Live was first launched in 2005 by the American composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. Together, they developed the idea of performing computer game music as a multimedia live event. Video Games Live creates a link between a young generation of game fans and passionate lovers of clasical music. More than 11,000 people flocked to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for the premiere on 6 July 2005. Since then, there have been numerous other concerts in America and Europe.

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